Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of Meeting of the Community Services Committee held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 6 November 2014 at 10.30am.

Present:

Dr D Alston, Mr R Balfour, Mrs J Barclay, Mr B Clark, Mrs G Coghill, Mr N Donald, Mr D Fallows, Mr A Graham, Mr R Greene, Mr A Henderson, Mr B Lobban, Mrs L MacDonald, Mr G MacKenzie, Mr K MacLeod, Mrs B McAllister, Mr B Murphy, Mr G Phillips, Mr A Rhind, Mrs F Robertson (Substitute) and Mr H Wood.

Non-Members also present:

Mr A Baxter, Mr T MacLennan, Mr R Saxon and Dr A Sinclair.

In attendance:

Mr W Gilfillan, Director of Community Services
Dr C Clark, Head of Environmental and Regulatory Services
Mr R Evans, Head of Roads and Transport
Mr D Goldie, Head of Housing
Ms C Campbell, Performance and Building Maintenance Manager
Mr M Mitchell, Finance Manager
Mr D Summers, Transport Development Officer
Miss J Maclennan, Principal Administrator, Corporate Development Service
Mrs R Daly, Committee Administrator, Corporate Development Service
Mrs F MacBain, Committee Administrator, Corporate Development Service  

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to Committee.

Mr G MacKenzie in the Chair

Preliminaries

Prior to the commencement of formal business, the Chairman referred to the sudden deaths of two members of staff from Community Services: David Hume and John Haining.  Mr Hume, a Roads Operative in Lochaber, had worked for the Council since 1991 and Mr Haining, a Ferry Operative, had served with the Council’s ferry service since 1976.  On behalf on the Committee the Chairman expressed condolences to both families.

Business

1.  Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Mrs C Caddick, Mr M Finlayson, Mr D Hendry, Mr H Morrison and Mr J Rosie.

2.  Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

The Committee NOTED the following declarations of interest:-

Item 11 – Mr R Saxon (non-financial)
Item 24 – Mr A Graham, Mrs L MacDonald, Mr K MacLeod, Mr H Wood (all financial)  

3.  Good News
Naidheachd Mhath

The Committee NOTED the following:-

• Safer Routes to Schools Implementation Fund – three projects had been granted funding totaling £240,000.  The Primary Schools involved were North of the River, Wick Campus and Inverness Royal Academy.
• “Housing Matters” - the first performance report publication, which contained information about how the Council performed as a landlord in 2013/14, had been sent to all Council tenants by post.
• The Sixth Annual Tenant Conference – held on 4 October 2014 at the Nairn Community and Arts Centre, the conference had been planned and co-ordinated by a group of tenants with support from Council staff.  The conference showcased a range of initiatives where tenant involvement was making a difference.  The day had finished with an awards ceremony to recognise the value of tenant volunteering in Highland Communities.  Mrs B McAllister, Vice Chair had presented awards for Young Person of the Year, Good Neighbour of the Year and Making a Difference Award.
• New Private Rented Accommodation Website - Highland Council had launched a new website, jointly with Moray Council, to help local people find suitable properties in the private rented sector.  The website went live on 3 November 2014.
• Litter Intervention – Highland Council had won a grant of £20k from Zero Waste Scotland to provide waste education, the primary aim being to motivate school children in Merkinch and Crown Primaries to adopt and maintain anti-littering behaviour.
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Goods Recycling – Highland Council had been awarded a “Gold Certificate” for the Torbreck site which was the most improved site for September. Portree had received a Silver Award and Highland Council had also received a Silver Award for the best Council for September.  

During discussion, Members commented, in relation to Safer Routes to Schools projects, that the views of local residents should be taken into consideration. The Director was also asked to pass on Members’ appreciation of the prompt work undertaken by staff following the recent landslide at Stromeferry Bypass and which had enabled the road to be re-opened during the day.  However, given the importance of the route, a request was made that the status of repairs to the Bypass remain on the front page of the Council’s website for the foreseeable future.

The Committee AGREED:-

i.  to thank the staff involved in the recent re-opening of the Stromeferry Bypass; and

ii.  that information on weather related issues, such as the Stromeferry Bypass, remain prominent on the front page of the Council’s website until the matter had been resolved.

4.  Membership of Harbours Management Board
Ballrachd Bòrd Stiùiridh nan Calachan

The Committee AGREED that Mr K MacLeod fill the vacancy on the Harbours Management Board.  

5.  Revenue Budget 2014/15 – Monitoring
Buidseat Teachd-a-steach 2014/15 – Sgrùdadh

There had been circulated Report No COM/31/14 dated 27 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invited Members to approve the revenue budget monitoring position for the period 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014.

During a summary of the report, it was explained that revenue expenditure for 2013/14 was currently in line with the budget outturn target. There were pressures and unachieved savings during financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15 which would create an impact on the 2014/15 budget. The combined waste management pressure, due to the continued increase in waste arisings, was of the order of £1.510m (2013/14 £0.865m and 2014/15 £0.645m), and the pressure on the public bus contract was of the order of £0.456m. The waste pressure was compounded by the unachieved saving of £0.400m for 2014/15 and the pressure of £0.245m for disposing of the increase in tonnages going to landfill.

Further additional pressures were highlighted amounting to some £0.800m which resulted in a total combined pressure for 2014/15 of £2.766m.  Managers would review their respective parts of the Service to identify where costs could be reduced without affecting service delivery, with a view to managing overspends, or approved savings measures that might not be fully achieved.

During discussion, comments were made as follows:-

• concern was expressed in relation to the unknown cost of severe weather incidents, particularly to infrastructure that had already sustained damage;
• it was hoped that the road maintenance budget would be fully allocated by the end of the current financial year;
• a detailed analysis of the implementation of jet patching, funded from the roads innovation fund, was anticipated in February 2015; and
• further to information being sought on the number of gully emptying machines across Highland, it was confirmed that there was one for each of the three operational areas, with their strategic deployment being managed centrally. In relation to issues in his specific area, Mr Rhind requested that the Area Officer contact him directly with information about the gully emptying machine’s use.  Following on from this, Members requested that a report on gully emptying activities be provided to Area Committees and the Director suggested that this could be included in an overall Community Services performance report.

The Committee:-

i.  APPROVED the report and the monitoring statements which showed the revenue position for the period 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014 and the actions which had been put in place to manage the budget over the remainder of the financial year; and

ii.  AGREED to investigate how information on gully clearing activity could be incorporated into the proposed Community Services Performance report to Area Committees.

6.  Capital Expenditure 2014/15 – Monitoring
Caiteachas Calpa 2014/15 – Sgrùdadh

There had been circulated Report No COM/32/14 dated 23 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invited Members to approve the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014.

During a summary of the Capital monitoring position it was confirmed that expenditure and income were £4.457m and £0.314m respectively.  The projected outturns for expenditure and income were £12.467m and £0.516m respectively leading to an underspend of £0.500m.

In terms of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme, allowing for the overspend in 2013/14, the remaining budget to fund Scottish Housing Quality Standard work, adaptations and other improvements to existing housing amounted to £43.070m. On 21 August 2014 the Committee had agreed the mainstream HRA capital budget for 2014/15 as £32.540m.  After 6 months of the financial year, the net expenditure was £19.297m representing 37.4% of the 2014/15 programmed figure. It was emphasised that the reported overspend of £1.955m was contained within the HRA capital programme and was due to projects being progressed in advance of predicted timetables.

During discussion, Members commented as follows:-

• it was disappointing that individual bridges were no longer listed in the appendices to the report.  In particular, concern was expressed about Invercoe Bridge which had been on the capital project list for some considerable time and which was a vital alternative route to the Ballachulish Bridge which was currently being resurfaced. The design was being progressed but the bridge was not yet in the capital programme, although the bridge and the retaining wall had been re-lined. The matter would be brought to the attention of the Director of Development and Infrastructure;
• feedback was requested on projects on which Members had been consulted but which had not made it into the capital programme; 
• confirmation was sought, and received, that the funding allocated to Travellers Sites was used to repair existing sites, rather than constructing new ones.  Investigation was suggested into the existence of Scottish Government funding sources for the maintenance of Travellers Sites;
• concern was expressed about the lack of communication between Community Services, Members and the public, including Community Councils, with various examples being provided, including the need to replace safety tiles in a play area in Glengarry.  The Chairman referred to the series of area public meetings that were being held and at which both himself and the Director attended.  The purpose of these meetings was to seek the views of the public on how communication could be improved and he emphasised that improved communication was a top priority for the Service;
• concern was raised in relation to the need for improvements to the Glen Docherty retaining wall and it was confirmed that the Director of Development and Infrastructure was taking this forward, with the tender process being underway;
• Members welcomed plans to draw up a guide to show who dealt with what in relation to Housing and Infrastructure matters;
• the Transport Officer (Information and Infrastructure) be asked to contact Mr R Greene with regard to the deployment of bus shelters;
• information be provided to Mr N Donald and Mr A Henderson with regard to the current situation in relation to the extensions of the burial grounds in Dores and Arisaig respectively; and
• the variance of £43,207 shown in Appendix B regarding the new build Inverness Assynt related to a final payment made after the project had been completed.  However, this would be checked and confirmation reported back to Mr A Henderson.

  The Committee:-

i.  APPROVED the capital expenditure monitoring position for the period 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2014;

ii.  AGREED that clarification would be provided in relation to the role of Community Services and Development and Infrastructure around Housing and Infrastructure matters;

iii.  AGREED to provide feedback to Members on those projects, on which they had been consulted, which had not made it into the capital programme; and

iv.  AGREED to seek sources of possible funding from the Scottish Government for the maintenance of Travellers Sites.

7.  Community Services – Restructure of Area Services
Seirbheisean Coimhearsnachd – Ath-structar a thaobh Seirbheisean Sgìreil  

There had been circulated Report No COM/33/14 dated 22 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which informed and updated Members on progress with the restructure of Community Services at area level and asked Members to note that a final report would be presented to Committee in February 2015 following further Workforce Planning within the Service.

During a summary of the report, it was confirmed that phasing and timetabling of the restructure of Area Services was now well underway with the appointment of Second Tier Managers (Phase 2) now completed.  In the on-going development of Community Services as a newly integrated service, the Service’s Senior Management Team had used the corporate workforce planning tool and framework to identify the number of employees and knowledge, abilities and behaviours that would be required to meet Service goals, strategic objectives and service delivery requirements.

During discussion, Members requested sight of the job specification for Community Works Officers so as to provide clarity and to ensure that their roles could be carried out in a consistent way throughout Highland.

The Committee:-

i.  NOTED that Assistant Area Managers had now been appointed and that a learning and development  programme was underway to support them in meeting the requirements of their new role;

ii.  NOTED that an up-to-date Action Plan on service restructuring would be presented to Committee in February 2015 following further Workforce Planning within the Service; and

iii.  AGREED that revised job descriptions and person specifications for Community Works Officers be provided to Members.

8.  Roads Innovation Fund
Maoin Innleachdail Rathaidean

There had been circulated Report No COM/34/14 dated 23 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invited the Committee to note progress against the Action Plan and to homologate the decision to reallocate some of the funding.  An updated Roads Innovation Fund Action Plan was appended to the report.

During discussion, Members welcomed the terms of the report as it illustrated how long-term progress and benefits could be derived from limited funds and commented as follows:-

• it was hoped that ROADEX methodology for prioritising the maintenance of roadside ditches could be mainstreamed throughout the Highlands and Members welcomed the completion of the drainage surveys;
• clarification was requested, and provided, on how the “zipper” equipment operated;
• the JetPatcher had significantly reduced the timescales involved in repairing potholes and it was queried whether, given the costs of the JetPatcher and zipper equipment, there might be merit in sharing plant with neighbouring authorities;
• it was queried why funding had been allocated to developing a business case for leasing or owning JetPatcher type equipment when it was understood that this would be carried out by officers;
• relating to the recycling pilot for structural maintenance it was queried what the target costs had been benchmarked against; and
• feedback from Community Councils on winter resilience had indicated that they considered it to be overly complicated and a simple approach of providing salt would be a more effective process.

The Committee:-

i.  NOTED progress against the Action Plan; and

ii.  HOMOLOGATED reallocation of the fund between actions as mentioned in paragraph 1.2 and detailed in Appendix A of the report.

9.  Corran Ferry
Aiseag a’ Chorrain

There had been circulated Report No COM/35/14 dated 24 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which updated Members on feedback received from Community Councils and Argyll & Bute Council regarding the socio-economic study undertaken for Corran Ferry. It also asked the Committee to recognise the local inflationary costs associated with Corran Ferry and the need for the service to be run in such a way that it covered its costs.

During a summary of the report, details were provided of the responses to the Consultation and the analysis carried out of the running costs of the ferry.  In addition the position in relation to potential funding being viewed as State Aid was explored together with how the Council might, if necessary, seek to address this.  The ferry needed to be sustainable in the long term but ticket price increases of 5.3% per annum were unsustainable for residents, tourists and businesses and therefore detailed consideration had been given to managing costs in relation to matters such as maintenance, refits and future ownership of the operation.  In particular, the need for a renewed ticketing system had been highlighted.  This provided an opportunity to work towards smart ticketing, an approach bringing advantages to both the Council and users.  Transport Scotland was seeking to pilot smart ticketing initiatives and had identified the Corran Ferry as a potential project.

During discussion, Members welcomed the clarity of the report, looked forward to receiving further detailed analysis and information and commented as follows:-

• with reference to meeting State Aid Regulations, it was noted that the tests were cumulative and that all four needed to be met for State Aid to be present.  It was unlikely that tests 3 and 4 could be met but it was also acknowledged that the assessment of an application for State Aid would not rest with the Council.  It would be helpful for Members to have access to additional information that had been received on meeting the assessment criteria;
• it was clear that the ferry represented an extension of the A82;
• Road Equivalent Tariff was available to other island communities and it was surprising that this ferry-dependent community would not qualify for additional support and, as such, this raised rural equalities considerations;
• it was accepted that there was a need to drive down costs and a detailed analysis should include reference to what measures had been taken to reduce costs over the last year.  While vehicle numbers had increased over the summer season, financial analysis should include reference to income and expenditure over the last ten years.  While accepting the complexity of compiling information, it was frustrating that a full cost breakdown was not yet available;
• the report suggested that existing fare levels were comparatively low but this view was not shared with working families who needed to use the ferry on a daily basis.  The comparison with other ferry routes across Scotland was not appropriate as the Corran Ferry represented a day-to-day commuter route for many residents on the peninsula and a means to access essential services;
• the issue of rural deprivation in the Ardnamurchan peninsula, which had previously been evidenced conclusively, should be of paramount importance when considering possible fare increase;
• many communities had fed into consultation exercises on cutting operational costs, changes to the service and new fare structures but their responses had still not been given serious consideration.  Some specific cost saving suggestions had been made to officers but had not been taken on board.  Communities had also made suggestions about seeking revenue from sponsorship arrangements and had queried the rise in staff costs;
• there was a need to ensure that future tariffs secured the financial viability of the service and that detailed analysis of costs was linked to profitability requirements.  Financial analysis should involve five year forecasts to provide stronger assurance of how and when the service would operate on a viable basis;
• the response from Argyle & Bute Council was disappointing as there appeared to be an assumption of fare increases rather than taking into account the views of the community in Mull who used this facility frequently;
• it was hoped that any new smart ticketing system would be able to accommodate the needs of frequent users to predict and budget for their monthly payments and the various ticketing options currently available;
• going out to tender for the service would raise a number of considerations including the implications for retention of the current ticketing system which provided a 71% discount;
• there was a need to be transparent about the arguments that had been mounted.  It was recognised that there was a strong case for a subsidised ferry service but, if this was the argument that was being made, then it followed that it would need to go out to tender;
• comparison was drawn with the Cromarty to Nigg ferry service for which a consultant had been commissioned.  Experience there had shown that going out to tender could open up a range of possibilities.  It was essential to be clear though as to which option should be pursued – either a subsidised service or a break-even service;
• it was requested that Local Members be present at meetings with Transport Scotland to discuss the future sustainability of the Corran Ferry.  In this connection, it was accepted that all parties involved would want to be in possession of all the relevant information so that a detailed analysis could be made;
• information advising if the Corran Ferry was running should be displayed clearly on the Council’s website;
• it was disappointing that there had not been any feedback from Community Councils on the socio-economic report.  It was suggested that some had not specifically been approached and it was known that there was resistance to fare increases.  It should not be inferred from the lack of feedback that there were no public concerns and, indeed, local media had recently reported that disquiet continued to be expressed; and
• the rescheduling of the refit of the existing vessel had been particularly welcome as had been the decision taken to replace the stand-by boat.

The Committee:-  

i.  NOTED the feedback received on the socio-economic study;

ii.  AGREED that the Corran Ferry operation work towards a break even position through a combination of increased revenue and reduced costs, with any fare alterations from April 2015 being presented at next Community Services Committee for approval;

iii.  NOTED the discussions on-going with Calmac into the possibility of sharing resources and reducing the operating costs of the Corran Ferry;

iv.  NOTED the discussions which were taking place with Transport Scotland on the long term sustainable future of the Corran Ferry; and

v.  AGREED that an update on smart ticketing be brought to the next Community Services Committee.

10.  Update on Waste Strategy
Fios às Ùr mu Ro-innleachd Sgudail 

There had been circulated Report No COM/36/14 dated 24 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which updated Members on the latest actions in respect of developing the residual waste strategy to ensure that the Council met its statutory obligations in terms of the Waste Scotland Regulations 2012. Landfilling biodegradable municipal waste needed to cease by 1 January 2021 and consequently alternative treatment and disposal provision for the Council’s residual waste would have to be made.

Consultants had been appointed to prepare an “Outline Business Case” for residual waste treatment to give Members the information necessary on which to base a decision which would allow work to start on obtaining a solution.  The options would take into account the technical merits of projects, their economics over an extended period of time and the various procurement and delivery options.  An inception meeting had already been held with the consultants and various options had been considered for inclusion in the business case, the details of which were outlined.  The arrangements in place to deal with current residual waste disposal were also provided and the new contracts would give the Council time to consider options and to gauge how the market in residual waste treatment evolved.

The Committee:-

i.  NOTED the progress to date; and

ii.  AGREED to re-endorse the approval previously given in 2009 for residual waste treatment to be based on appropriately sized and sited Energy from Waste facilities.

11.  Improving Waste Controls and Diversion at Recycling Centres
A’ Leasachadh Smachdan Sgudail agus Seach-stiùireadh aig Ionadan Ath-chuairteachaidh

Declaration of Interest 

Mr R Saxon declared a non financial interest in this item on the grounds of being the Chair of Homeaid - Caithness and Sutherland but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that his interest did not preclude his involvement in the discussion.

There had been circulated Report No COM/37/14 dated 23 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which updated Members on the project which had been approved on 6 February 2014 by the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee to improve waste controls and diversion at Recycling Centres.  The objectives of this project were to improve license compliance, increase recycling and drive down residual waste.

In summary, it was reported that the pilot project carried out at the Alness Recycling Centre to identify and eliminate the deposit of commercial waste had resulted in a reduction in waste to landfill and an increase in the recycling rate. The Alness site itself had been reviewed and, as a result, new skips and bins had been introduced to make it easier for householders to recycle more.  Mixed bagged waste inspection had also been carried out and information leaflets provided to site users as to how to use Recycling Centres highlighting the importance of separating items for recycling rather than sending mixed bagged waste to landfill.  Furthermore, Members were reminded that a ban on the deposit of household waste associated with commercial or trade activities at all Highland Recycling Centres had been introduced in April 2014.

During discussion, Members commented as follows:-

• at present, vans and trailers which arrived at a Recycling Centre without a Household Waste Declaration form required to return to the Service Point to obtain one, often at considerable inconvenience and causing traffic congestion in town centres.  Although it was explained that forms were not held at Recycling Centres to avoid taking up the time of the attendant, Members asked for this to be re-considered;
• further to a request for progress on providing recycling services in Lochalsh, it was pointed out that a meeting to discuss this was being re-scheduled;
• consideration should be given to charging commercial operators to use Council Recycling Centres.  It had been observed that commercial operators sometimes asked householders to dispose of their waste for them.  In response, problems handling payments at Recycling Centres were highlighted, in addition to possible complaints from private sector recycling service providers; and
• education was key to reducing the amount of recyclable material being disposed of in residual waste.

The Committee:-

i.  NOTED progress to date;

ii.  APPROVED the following measures at all recycling centres all with the objective of reducing landfill and increasing recycling:  

a)  roll-out the programme to all recycling centres in Highland;

b)  ban the deposit of household waste by commercial/profit type operators;

c)  the introduction of control measures and specifically a regime of prior notification to users with vans and/or trailers; and

d)  the introduction of a challenge and inspection regime to ensure that users maximised the use of the recycling facilities and minimised the use of landfill disposal (this would include on-going training for staff in this sensitive matter); and

iii.  AGREED to investigate the possibility of making Household Waste Declaration forms more readably available at Recycling Centres.

12.  Update on Waste Compositional Analysis Project
Fios às Ùr mu Phròiseact Anailis air Co-dhèanamh Sgudail  

There had been circulated Report No COM/38/14 dated 23 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which provided Members with more information on the interim results of the waste compositional survey and gave an indication of the potential level of savings that an increase in recycling could generate by adding more materials to the blue bin.  

The results of the analysis illustrated that, if capture rates were to increase, emphasis had to be placed on behaviour change through intervention, education and awareness.  Proposed measures were outlined and included the use of the framework arrangement, through Scotland Excel, which would allow the Council to procure a service whereby new materials such as aerosols, tetrapaks etc could be added to the blue bin by 2015, generating a rise of round 1,000 tonnes per annum and providing savings of £70k.  Other interventions were also outlined and included adding bottle banks closer to households, campaigning to divert textiles away from residual waste, intervention programmes at recycling centres and the tightening of rules around 2nd bins.

During discussion, the following comments were made:-

• ‘fines’ in residual waste was clarified as being very small matter such as grit or similar debris;
• the addition of further recyclable items, especially plastics, to the blue bin collections was welcomed.  It was clarified that while recycled plastic bottles were of particular value, plastic film was more likely to be of mixed material and subject to contamination;
• continued pressure was called for on supermarkets to reduce packaging and to reduce offers that encouraged over consumption, such as buy one get one free. Over packaged goods could be reported to Trading Standards;
• in addition to encouraging the recycling of food waste, more should be done to prevent its production in the first instance;
• Waste Scotland should be asked to consider re-introducing subsidised composters for households; and
• the responsibilities of contractors who emptied bottle banks were sought in relation to the removal of debris.  

The Committee:-

i.  NOTED progress to date and the outcome of the interim waste compositional analysis; and

ii.  APPROVED the addition of a number of recyclable materials to the blue bin in 2015 subject to the successful conclusion of a procurement exercise through the relevant Scotland Excel framework agreement.

13.  Private Water Supplies Protocol for Type B Supplies
Protocal Solarachadh Uisge Prìobhaideach airson Solarachaidhean Seòrsa B

There had been circulated Report No COM/39/14 dated 23 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which highlighted Environmental Health’s approach on dealing with Type B private water supplies and which sought Member approval on such.

Members were informed of the responsibilities of Environmental Health to classify private water supplies as either Type A (providing water to commercial premises or providing water to more than 50 persons in a domestic property) or Type B (providing water for up to 50 persons in a domestic situation).  Recently, the Scottish Government’s Drinking Water Quality Regulator had written to all Local Authorities stating the expectations of Councils towards Type B supplies and recommending that a clear policy be put in place in respect of Type B properties by April 2015.  Details of how these supplies would be regulated in the proposed policy were provided, particularly in relation to sampling, monitoring, charging and the use of enforcement powers.

The Committee AGREED:-  

i.  Environmental Health’s approach to Type B supplies in that a regulatory sampling regime would not be introduced in Highland Council and;

ii.  that the Council adopt the Type B policy on Private Water Supplies outlined in Appendix 1 of the report.

14.  Decriminalised Parking Enforcement
Dì-eucoireachadh Èigneachadh Parcaidh

There had been circulated Report No COM/40/14 dated 24 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which updated Members on the work which had been undertaken to construct a decriminalised parking enforcement (DPE) model (financial) for the Highlands, described the service delivery options which had been considered and recommended a preferred delivery option that would ensure the new service was cost neutral to the Highland Council.

RTA Associates Ltd had been commissioned to undertake a study to consider a preferred service delivery mechanism and the financial viability of such a step.  The results were detailed and, in summary, Option C (that resourcing would be primarily from existing off-street Parking Attendants with 8 of the existing 9 staff taken across to perform an on-street and off-street Parking Attendant role but with back office functions outsourced to another Local Authority) was recommended to be taken forward as the preferred delivery mechanism for the major urban areas where congestion currently existed, namely Inverness and Fort William.  It was likely that the Parking Attendant service would be scaled up gradually to the level the model predicted and the service would continually be reassessed to ensure the needs of Highland were met.  Start-up costs would be in the region of £450,000 and it was anticipated this approach would make a loss initially before then becoming financially stable.

During discussion, Members welcomed the DPE model given the traffic congestion that had resulted from the removal of Traffic Wardens in Highland. Comments were made as follows:- 

• the use of a smartphone system should be considered, with the benefits of reducing paperwork and enabling people to view Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) information online;
• consideration should also be given to outsourcing back office functions to a private company rather than another Local Authority as their recovery rate for PCNs might be higher;
• any future surplus funds should be used to offset parking charges;
• prior to implementation of the DPE model, signage and road markings required considerable improvement;
• although parking offences were a matter for the Local Authority, highway obstruction remained a matter for the Police and, as such, contact would be made with the Police at a senior level to ensure such offences were dealt with when reported;
• it was suggested that the community warden role to enforce litter and dog fouling legislation could be helped by having parking attendants accompany them, thereby providing a witness to offences. However, legal clarity was sought on the necessity of a witness for prosecution of those offences; and
• it was clarified that the DPE model would permit the issuing of PCNs across the whole area, including parking offences on trunk roads.

The Committee:-

i.  NOTED the service delivery options which had been appraised;

ii.  AGREED the preferred service delivery option (Option 1c) to be taken forward with a view to implementation in 2016 (subject to a Decriminalised Parking Enforcement application to Transport Scotland); and

iii.  AGREED to provide clarification on the role of Community Wardens in the process.

The Committee adjourned for lunch at 1.10 p.m. and resumed at 1.45 p.m.

15.  Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 – Annual Report 2013/14
Achd Àiteachan Parcaidh do Dhaoine air a bheil Ciorram (Alba) 2009 – Aithisg Bhliadhnail 2013/14

There had been circulated Report No COM/41/14 dated 24 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invited Members to note the Council’s Annual Report in accordance with the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009.

The report outlined progress with the preparation of the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).  In addition, it was reported that work to identify disabled bays in all off-street car parks was ongoing and that a small number of private business owners had also indicated they would like disabled bays in their private car parks to be included in a TRO.

The Committee NOTED the Council’s Annual Report to the Scottish Government in relation to the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009 as detailed in Appendix A of the report.

16.  Strategic Timber Transport Scheme Bids
Iarrtasan airson Sgeama Ro-innleachdail Còmhdhail Fiodha  

There had been circulated Report No COM/42/14 dated 23 October 2014 by the Director of Community Services which invited Members to note the submission of recent applications for funding to the Strategic Timber Transport Fund (STTF) and which detailed the range of projects supported through the fund.  The report also invited Members to agree that representations be made through the Forestry Commission, the Timber Transport Forum or COSLA, as appropriate, for the Scottish Government to continue the funding of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund beyond March 2016.

During a summary of the report, it was explained that the STTF had been set up by the Scottish Government in 2005 in recognition of the challenges faced in transporting timber to market.  It was administered by the Forestry Commission Scotland “to facilitate the sustainable transport of timber in rural areas of Scotland for the benefit of local communities and the environment, maximising the value of monies available through innovative projects and partnerships”.  Projects in the Highlands had been awarded a total of £2.8m of funding since April 2012, the details of which were included in the report.  A further round of bids was now underway, with a pool of Government funding of about £2m, and it was expected funding allocations would be announced by 13 November 2014.  In total, five bids had been submitted for the Highlands, the Council’s two bids being in relation to the replacement of the Ruthven Bridge and the improvement of the Flow Country Timber Links.  Looking ahead, and recognising the benefit the Fund was to the Highlands in dealing with timber transport problems, it was important representations were made for continued funding to resolve the remaining issues.

During discussion, Members welcomed the report and the supported projects and commented as follows:-

• the rapid response in submitting the bid for Ruthven Bridge was particularly welcome as an emergency 3 tonne weight restriction had been imposed on the bridge due to its dangerous condition.  It was also very encouraging that the scheme to replace the bridge could commence in 2014/15 if the application was successful.  Large timber and distillery lorries had to use a diversion which was now suffering as a consequence of increased heavy traffic and which recently had been blocked.  The importance of the bid to carry out necessary works on Ruthven Bridge was reinforced as it would be necessary not only for local transport but also for the local economy;
• the Braehour Link Road project had made a huge difference locally, had preserved the public road and been complemented by the widening of the single track road from Loch More to the Westerdale turn off allowing safer road conditions.  It was, however, surprising that there had been no uptake from Scotrail as the rail line traversed the forest in this area;
• officers were commended for their success in bidding to the STTF and it was hoped that the scheme would be extended for the future;
• the complementary bid submitted by HITRANS to trial of timber transport by rail would also reduce carbon emissions in the Highlands and it was hoped that this bid would be successful; and
• there were instances where forestry lorries had caused damage and it had proved difficult to recover costs from the Forestry Commission as Section 96 Agreements had not been in place.  An example was cited of Forestry Commission vehicles having caused approximately £400k of damage on the road between Strontian and Polloch where the Council could not legally recover costs.  In this connection it was confirmed that the Council would continue to pursue timber hauliers for these costs.

The Committee:-  

i.  NOTED the submission of recent applications for funding to the Strategic Timber Transport Fund;

ii.  AGREED that representation be made through the Forestry Commission, the Timber Transport Forum or COSLA as appropriate for the Scottish Government to continue the funding of the Strategic Timber Transport Scheme Fund beyond March 2016; and

iii.  AGREED to investigate, with Legal Services, the possibility of recovering the cost of repairing damage to the road network which had arisen as a result of commercial forestry operations but where no Section 96 had been put in place.